Am searching for biographical information on Charles Kegelman, who was, reportedly, a native of El Reno, OK. I believe he has roots in Franklin County, Missouri, and would like to establish this. I understand an airport at El Reno is named for him. I have been able to find information on his World War II service, but not personal genealogy lineage. Any help would be appreciated.

Even just his parents' names might be enough to make this link.

Thank you

Here's a link that will give you info on the airport. It is in Cherokee, which is quite a distance from El Reno:
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/OK/Airfields_OK_W.htm

Also, some biographical info you may not already have:
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0591valor.asp

and a short bio:
"Col. Charles C. Kegelman, Posthumous

Col. Charles “Sonny” Kegelman (OMA ’34), the first member of the American Forces in Europe to be decorated for his gallantry in action against the enemy, received his wings and commission in the Army Air Corps at Randolph Field in 1936. Before his entry into the Air Corp, he attended junior college at the Oklahoma Military Academy and then the University of Oklahoma to prepare himself for a medical career. His first assignment after graduation was to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and later he was assigned to Savannah, Georgia. Attending a bomber pilots school in Nevada, Kegelman left the transition school in May 1942 for a overseas assignment in England.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Dwight Eisenhower, who praised his “superior airmanship and extraordinary gallantry and coolness in saving the lives of his crew” following his first mission of the American Air Forces in Europe on July 4, 1942. With the engine of his A-20 knocked out by savage anti-aircraft fire, the fuselage ripped open, and the right wing damaged, Kegelman led his bomber formation over the target and back to its British base. General Jimmy Doolittle ordered the first Distinguished Service Cross for Kegelman’s participation in this first aerial blow against Germany by the Army Air Forces.

Kegelman led aerial assaults on channel ports and Nazi airfields for nine months as a squadron commander until ordered to Tunisia to support the African campaign. At that time, the only American Air Force group in Africa was Kegelman’s squadron of A-20s and a P-38 fighter group.

Kegelman, a native of El Reno, Oklahoma, came home in 1943 and was honored with a citywide celebration which was attended by such notables as Governor Robert S. Kerr. He remained in the U.S. training airmen for more than a year.

In 1944 he was requested to return to combat and was sent to the South Pacific in September, 1944. While leading his group of B-25’s on a routine bombing run over the Japanese-held island of Mindinao, in the Philippines, Kegelman’s wing man lost control; the two planes collided and plunged into the jungle. At the time of his death, Kegelman was 29 years old, the El Reno VFW Post 382 was named in his honor."

Finally, the 1920 Canadian Co, OK census shows a Charlie S as a 4 1/2 year old son of a Charles C and Alva Kegelman. There are three older sisters whose names appear to be (hard to read): Renee, Inez, and Anna. Charles was from Missouri, Alva from Nebraska, the eldest daughter from Kansas, and the rest from Oklahoma.

RAOGK (pass it on)

This is a reach, but there is a Charles Kegelman in the 1880 census for Allen Co, Indiana listed as a 4 year old son of Julius (sp??) and Anna Kegelman. The parents were originally from Prussia. Theere is an older sister to Charles whose name appears to be Katte. Both Charles and Katte were lsited as being born in Indiana. Julius is listed as a mattress maker.

RAOGK

Thank you very much. This information was much appreciated and the bio information was exactly what we needed. Are you connected in some way, or just helpful?
Thanks,
Glen & Sue Blesi

No relation, just an RAOGK (Random Act of Genealogical Kindness).

In the WWI draft registrations, there is an entry for Charles Christian Kegelman from El Reno. He was born 30 Jun 1876. It doesn't list a specific place but indicates he was native born. He is a locomotive engineer for the Rock Island RR. His nearest relative is Alva Kegelman, his wife.

Charles Kegelman's full name was Charles Clark Kegelman. He had 3 sisters, Rena, Inez & Anne. All were born in El Reno, OK. His father, also Charles Kegelman (middle name escapes me), had a farm in Franklin County, MO before moving to his El Reno farm with a job as a train engineer. His father was my great-grandfather.

Charles Kegelman's nick names were "Sonny," "Keggy" & "Keg." He died near the end of WWII as a full Col. in the USAAF at age 29 as a result of a collision of B-25 bombers over a Phillipine island. He had early in the war been decorated by Dwight Eisenhower for leading the first US combat raid against German occupied Europe on the "Independence Day mission" on July 4, 1942. He had quite a history of aireal combat during WWII.

Although married, Charles had no children. His closest living relative is his nephew, Charles Smith, now in Kansas City, MO. Charles Kegelman was only 11 years older than my father and his brother, Floyd ("Bud") Smith (now dec.), were more like like brothers to Charles Kegelman than uncle-nephews.

My father new Charles Kegelman well and knows of some of the relatives who lived in the Franklin Co. MO area.

I'd like to find out what your interest is in Charles Kegelman? Also, would you like to be put in touch with my father, Charles Smith, for more information? I feel certain that since you are interested in Charles Kegelman, he would be interested in talking or corresponding with you.

Regards,
Chuck Smith

Charles Christian Kegelman was Charles Clark ("Sonny") Kegelman's father. Charles Christian Kegelman was my great-granfather. Charles Clark Kegelman was my grandmother's brother.

Would be very interested to know the nature of the interest in Charles Kegelman.

Regards.

Hi all,
I live in El Reno, where the airplane sits in front of the VFW, with "Sonny's" name on it and it's been there since I can remember and I'm 52.
Maryetta Little

I'm a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Of The United States,Charles C. "Sonny" Kegelman Post 382, El Reno, OK.
I'm Post Adjutant.

Just wanted to know something about him.